 
From the sentimental opening chords of ‘Unfolds
And Bloom’ through the sentimental chords
and power-pop choruses of the other ten songs
on Somersaults the comparison with Snow Patrol
is inevitable and to find out it was mixed by,
Cenzo Townshend, the man responsible for their
mildly successful dirge is little surprise to
anybody with ears; but it doesn’t do the
band justice.
Somersaults is the debut album by London/Cambridge
based Ghostlight a band dedicated to home grown
talent and the DIY ethic, they release their own
music on their own label, and after a slew of
online awards for early songs things appear to
be on the up for this young indie band. It’s
not bad when you consider they are only three
years young.
The issue with this record though is that it consists
only of great moments and not great songs. The
strings on title track ‘Somersaults’
are a masterful contrast with jangling keys, but
it’s fleeting and leaves you gasping for
more. ‘Fingertips’ kicks things up
a notch with some thrillingly funky distorted
electric guitar rhythms and layers upon layers
of faded drum fills; it sounds as if a DJ has
taken their track and ripped it apart. It’s
easily the best song on the album setting them
apart from a whole host of radio friendly rock
acts just waiting to bore you to death with their
incessant moaning about the traffic on the M6,
being ludicrously rich, and why you too should
support David Cameron in his bid for a duller
tomorrow. This though is a rare moment of triumph
on a record that is constantly losing the battle
to steer clear of tacky power-pop.
‘6 Years Later’ is a chorus of momentous
piano melody’s and slightly accented singing
that you’ve heard on a million montages
for films that claim a romance racked with turmoil
and/or comedy is the answer to your nightmares.
It’s not.
Frontman Al White though is a singer with a beautiful
voice who knows his limitations and his strengths,
hence the soaring choruses. He projects himself
with a gracious sense of vulnerability as he touts
his stories of love, lust, and heartbreak: “I
just need the chance, to suffocate this doomed
romance, and all these things in my head are from
words that you said.” Lyrically and structurally
there are some profound moments such as on ‘Mathematics’
and ‘Sway’ it’s almost as if
Ghostlight recognise their own failings and yet
have settled for releasing an album which feels
like two different bands wrote half each. The
latter is a song which utilises White’s
experience and tinges itself with stunning bleeps
and beeps; it’s like The Postal Service
never left our hearts, but yet again they do.
The component parts of this record are all fine,
but there are hints of a much better band trying
to break through and on Somersaults they never
quite manage it. Ghostlight have achieved a lot
in their short career to date and working with
people as respected in the business as Townshend
can do them no harm, so long as they don’t
let the business ruin the few interesting elements
to their music.
3/5
Review by Lauren Mullineaux
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